It felt like it kind of came from out of nowhere but Ted Lasso has quickly become one of the more wholesome and lovable shows you can find anywhere. The Apple TV+ series has been met with widespread acclaim, renewed for two more seasons, and scored star Jason Sudeikis a Golden Globe.
The show is beloved due to the connections made between characters. Whether it’s adorable friendships or romantic pairings, audiences get hooked when these combinations are showcased. Some are entertaining even if they aren’t good for the people involved, so they still deserve a nod on this list.
Leslie & Rebecca
At the start of the series, Leslie Higgins comes across as nothing more than Rebecca Welton’s lapdog of sorts. He does whatever she asks of him and there isn’t much more to it. However, their relationship is built upon when he pushes back against her decision to sabotage the team.
Rebecca lashes out and scolds him for keeping the secrets of her ex-husband in the past. It’s an emotional scene that really works to flesh them out as friends. When Leslie visits him to bring him back to work, they both seem to forgive each other and become closer because of it.
Jamie & Keeley
Jamie Tartt is the best player on the team from a talent perspective but he’s incredibly selfish. Keeley Jones is a model who is in a relationship with him when the show kicks off. It’s clear from the start that Keeley is going to be a likable character, while Jamie isn’t.
Ultimately, their romance fails due to their vast differences. Jamie’s basically a man child and Keeley realizes that she wants more than that. Still, the two are entertaining together and what they go through actually helps make each of them better people in the end.
Rebecca & Sam
Here’s a pairing that certainly got less screen time than the previous two, yet it ranks higher because it’s pretty cute. Sam Obisanya is a lovable player who struggles with self-confidence and the fact that he misses his home, while Rebecca is the team’s owner.
On paper, they shouldn’t be a potential item but there’s a chance that it happens. Sam is adorable when he asks her to join the team for the reversal of a curse and they also have some surprising eyes for each other. It might not ever become anything but it’s still sweet.
Jamie & Roy
There are times when rivals can actually make for the best relationships. Jamie and his aforementioned attitude problems rubbed a lot of his teammates the wrong way but none more than the veteran captain, Roy Kent. He loathed everything about Jamie.
Of course, the brilliant Keeley helped them realize that they were a bit more similar than they’d like to admit. Still, their feud was always great to see play out on screen and you could eventually tell that there was even some begrudging respect between them.
Coach Beard & Ted
The main story is obviously about Ted Lasso and his move from coaching football in the United States to heading up a soccer team in Europe. However, Coach Beard also makes the move alongside him. Together they arrive in a new country and face things as a unit.
What makes their bond so fun is that audiences don’t learn a ton about Coach Beard. He’s quiet, is passionate about his job, kind of brilliant, and loves chess. That silent nature works perfectly next to the talkative Ted. It’s great to see how well they know each other when Ted is able to lob up something verbally for him and Beard gets to slam it home with a one-liner.
Keeley & Ted
It’s hard to find any two characters more likable on their own than Ted and Keeley. They both are openly nice to those around them, give sage advice, and are pretty funny. Their friendship is one of the early highlights of the show as Ted comes to her for help with getting through to Jamie.
That bond is nearly used against them in an effort to cause a scandal between the two and Jamie. That never comes to pass and ultimately, they don’t spend a ton of time together in the back half of the season. Regardless, what fans got of them together was wonderful and they need to see more in season two.
The Diamond Dogs
The only group on this list to not be a pair, the Diamond Dogs consists of four characters. After Ted spends the night with Rebecca’s friend Flo, he feels guilt over it. So, he confides in Coach Beard, Leslie, and the always lovable Nate, who all give him advice.
When it all works out well for Ted, he loves this quartet. Together, they come up with a nickname for the group and they land on the “Diamond Dogs.” The episode where it happens is even named after them. The group is delightful, especially when they help Roy with his lady problems.
Rebecca & Ted
At first, Rebecca seems like basically the same character as the Cleveland Indians owner in 1989’s Major League. She purposely attempts to sabotage the team, though she does it to get back at her ex-husband since they were the only thing he ever truly loved. In fact, she hires Ted as part of that plan and does things to harm his image.
However, the two actually form a bond over time. Ted brings her cookies almost daily and they’re not from the store but ones that he bakes personally for her. Ted stands up for her when it comes to Rupert and is quick to forgive her when he finds out the truth. She realizes that she’s wrong and grows from it.
Keeley & Rebecca
Ted isn’t the only person who connects with Rebecca in a major way. Keeley does the same and it comes in an unexpected way. She shows up at Rebecca’s office and they quickly bond because Keeley treats her like a regular everyday girlfriend and not someone in power.
Keeley isn’t afraid to speak to her like she would anyone else, using foul language and even flirting with her on several occasions. Rebecca invites Keeley to stay with her at Liverpool and they are there for each other whenever one needs it. Keeley is the one to call Rebecca out for her wrongdoings, while Rebecca helped her friend realize that she deserved better in a relationship.
Keeley & Roy
When Rebecca made Keeley understand that she desired and needed a more mature relationship, the one with Roy seemed to jump out at her. The two spend some of the early episodes sharing witty banter and even flirting a little bit but it doesn’t go much further.
Once a romance is possible, the usually stoic Roy becomes flustered and asks her out in a cute scene. The final few episodes that shine a light on their relationship makes it clear that they are great for each other. Kelley is able to help him grasp that there’s more to him than just being an athlete, while he helps her access that more mature side she wanted.
